Valve mechanism



Oct, 14, 1969 v E. A. H. ERIKSSON VALVE MECHANISM Filed Dec. 16, 1966//V VE/VTOR. Eausr A. H EmzrsSou ArromvJYs United States Patent3,472,263 VALVE MECHANISM Ernst Axel Harald Eriksson, Eriksbergsvagen16,

Sollentuna 2, Sweden Filed Dec. 16, 1966, Ser. No. 602,299 Int. Cl. Gd16706; F16k 31/145 U.S. Cl. 137--116 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREThis invention relates to a valve mechanism for use with feed or boosterpumps and like apparatus and serving to keep constant the pressure ofthe liquid delivered to a place of consumption.

The valve mechanism is particularly intended for use in such liquiddistribution systems as are described in U.S. Patent 2,654,323. In thesesystems, the liquid is placed under pressure by the operation of a pumpdriven by an electric motor and is permitted to flow to the place ofconsumption, e.g. the spray nozzle, when the pressure in the pump outlethas reached a predetermined value. Liquid distributing systems of thistype are generally used in connection with oil burners to whichcombustion air is supplied by a fan driven by the pump motor. Inconformity with the system described the valve mechanism comprises amain valve inserted in a line leading from the pressure side of the pumpto the place of consumption, and a pressure control valve inserted in abypass leading from the pressure side of the pump back to the suctionside thereof, the valves being each constituted by a stationary valveseat in a common valve housing and by a diaphragm common to said valveseats, enclosed in the valve housing cooperating with the two seats andsupported by a disk, said diaphragm consisting of rubber or likematerial and being pressed against the valve seats by a spring forceacting upon said disk to keep the valves closed; said diaphragm,however, can be moved away from the valve seats against the action ofthe spring force by the liquid pressure prevailing in the housing toopen the valves when said liquid pressure has reached the predeterminedvalue.

Such a valve mechanism has not been found satisfactory in practice,inasmuch as no perfect control is obtained which primarily is due to theformation of an air cushion between the diaphragm and the disksupporting it. However, this shortcoming is eliminated by the valvemechanism according to the present invention which is characterized bythe fact that the diaphragm is fixedly connected to the supporting disk.Besides, the invention entails the advantage that the diaphragm is notdeformed by the suction to which it is exposed due to the outlet of thecontrol valve being in communication with the suction side of the pump.

These features of the invention and the advantages gained thereby willappear more clearly from the following description in which reference ismade to the accompanying drawing which diagrammatically shows a crosssection of the main details of a liquid distributing system equippedwith an embodiment, chosen by way of example, of the valve mechanismsuggested by the present invention.

The liquid distributing system illustrated in the draw- "Ice ing isbuilt up in all essential details in the same way as that disclosed inthe U.S. Patent 2,654,323, for which reason merely the main features ofthe system will be described here. The system incorporates: a gear pump1, the suction line 2 of which passes through a filter 3 from a liquidcontainer (oil tank) 4 and the pressure conduit 5 of which leads to avalve mechanism 6 from which an inlet 7 leads to the place ofconsumption which is shown here as an oil spray nozzle 8, for example inan oil burner.

The valve mechanism 6 has a valve housing 9 to which the pressureconduit 5 is connected, and mounted in the wall of said housing 9 is acylindrical body 10 which at the end facing a diaphragm 11 has anannular flange 12 constituting a fixed valve seat for a main valve.Concentrically inside the flange 12 said cylindrical body 10 has asecond annular flange 13 which constitutes a fixed valve seat for apressure control valve. Instead of being provided in a separate body 10the valve seats 12 and 13 can be arranged in the valve housing 9 proper.

The place between the valve seats 12 and 13 communicates via an outletpassage 14 with the line 17 leading to the place of consumption 8, whilethe chamber inside the valve seat 13 is connected by means of a centraloutlet passage 15 to a passage 16 which leads to the filter 3 and thusto the suction pump 1.

Mounted in the valve housing 9 is the diaphragm 11 which is common tothe two valve seats 12 and 13 for coaction therewith. The diaphragm 11which is of rubber or like flexible material is supported by a circulardisk 17 which has a thickness such that it remains plane despite theprevailing pressure. It is provided in a cylindrical recess 18 which isslightly larger than the disk 17 so that it will center the disk 17without preventing the oscillation thereof. The disk may be consideredas a lever pivotally mounted about a support 19 which in the embodimentillustrated is formed by a pair of balls mounted beside one another andrelatively close to the periphery of the recess 18.

Arranged on the same side of the diaphragm as the disk 17 is a springdevice which comprises a spring 20 and a pin 21 actuated thereby. Thepin is kept pressed with one end against the disk 17 and thus againstthe diaphragm 11 by the spring 20 in order to keep the two valves havingthe seats 12 and 13 closed when the pump 1 is not in operation or thepressure delivered thereby is lower than a predetermined value. Foropening the valves the pressure generated by the pump 1 in the valvehousing 9 thus has to slightly exceed said predetermined value. Once thevalves have been opened and a major area of the diaphragm has beenexposed to the liquid pressure, a smaller value thereof suffices tomaintain them open. The pressure control valve comprising the valve seat13 and the diaphragm 11 ensures that this operational pressure which issupplied to the place of consumption 8 via the main valve comprising thevalve seat 12 and the diaphragm 11, is not essentially exceeded but iskept substantially constant.

To eliminate the risk of an air cushion being formed between thediaphragm 11 and the disk 17, the diaphragm 11 is fixedly connected tothe disk 17 over the entire surface or by at least that part thereof bywhich the diaphragm 11 coacts with the valve seats 12 and 13.

In a preferred embodiment the diaphragm 11 is vulcanized to the disk 17.The diaphragm 11 may also be glued or otherwise fixed to the disk 17What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

' 1. A valve mechanism for use with feed or booster pumps and likeapparatus and serving to keep constant the pressure of the liquiddelivered to a place of consumption, comprising a main valve inserted ina line leading from the pressure side of the pump to the place ofconsumption, and a pressure control valve inserted in a bypass leadingfrom the pressure side of the pump back to the suction side thereof, thevalves being each constituted by a stationary valve seat in a commonvalve housing and by a diaphragm common to said valve seats, enclosed inthe valve housing cooperating with the two seats and supported by adisk, said diaphragm being formed of rubber or like material and beingpressed against the valve seat by a spring force acting upon said diskto keep the valves closed; said diaphragm being movable away from thevalve seats against the action of the spring force by the liquidpressure prevailing in the housing to open the valves when said liquidpressure has reached the preto the disk in the vicinity where thediaphragm contacts the valve seats; thereby avoiding the presence of anair cushion between the diaphragm and the disk.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,654,323 10/1953 Wahlmark 103-392,662,348 12/1953 Jacobson 137505.11 3,251,375 5/1966 Reed et a1. 137414FOREIGN PATENTS 691,022 6/ 1964 Canada.

determined value, said diaphragm being fixedly connected 15 DONALD E.WATKINS, Primary Examiner

